Storyline
To prove a point about measuring up and fitting in, Texas teen Willowdean “Dumplin’” Dickson enters a local pageant run by her ex-beauty queen mom.
Directors
Cast
Jennifer Aniston, Kathy Najimy, Luke Benward, Harold Perrineau, Dan Finnerty, Sam Pancake, Odeya Rush, Danielle Macdonald, Dove Cameron, Bex Taylor-Klaus, William Walker, Maddie Baillio, Taegen Burns, Georgie Flores, Joshua Eads-Brown, Hilliary Begley, Molly McNearney, Tian Richards, Ryan Dinning, Andrew Fletcher, Kaye Singleton, Grace Junot, Maya Reid, Brooke Hartzog, Luke Donaldson
Trailer
Reviews
88
There’s a makeover montage in Dumplin’, and it’s a lulu. It is overseen by drag queens who specialize in doing Dolly Parton, and it doesn’t get any more extra than that. Like so much in this film, this makeover comes with a refreshingly smart, funny, wise, and warmhearted twist.
75
Lessons about loving oneself, accepting one’s faults, and being the best version of yourself are cheesy, but not without purpose. Call it cinematic comfort food, but Dumplin' knows how to satisfy.
75
Dumplin’ sometimes takes the easy road.... But there’s so much more to enjoy, from the nuanced work by Jennifer Aniston that ensures Rosie’s never a caricature of a pageant mom; to the warm and natural best-buddy chemistry between Danielle MacDonald and Odeya Rush; to that instant classic of a soundtrack courtesy of Ms. Parton, with a little help from her friends.
55
A big heart and strong cast go a long way towards elevating its prosaic approach.
50
As it proceeds through a series of teary reconciliations in the last half-hour of its 110-minute run time, the film's didactic drama begins to grate, its treacly emotions feeling increasingly unearned.
